Wooster, OH – Local Roots Market and Café is pleased to announce the “Roots of Health” dinner series line up for 2014. This is the third year of this successful program.

The Roots of Health dinners will run for eight consecutive Tuesday evenings starting at 6 PM, from February 10th through March 31st.

Each evening will consist of a presentation on a topic concerning health, food, or wellness followed by dinner and discussion. Topics for this year include:

2/10 - Eating fresh and local during (an Ohio) winter
2/17 - Why everyone is so excited about BONE BROTH!
2/24 - What is Reiki and how can it help me?
3/3 - Lifestyle practices for improving and maintaining health
3/10 - "Food for the Heart"
3/17 - RELAX!
3/24 - How what you eat affects the farming landscape and your community
3/31 - Cooking with friends!

Dinners will be made at Local Roots and will feature local, seasonal ingredients prepared to compliment the topic of that night’s discussion.

Vegan or gluten-free options will be available upon request.

The cost is $15 per dinner. Anyone who attends the entire eight-week series will receive voucher for a complimentary lunch from the Local Roots Café.

Please preregister by the Friday before each dinner at the market. To learn more, or register, please visit the Local Roots website listed below

Local Roots Market & Café specializes in local, sustainably grown foods from small Ohio farms. Shoppers can find farmers’ market quality produce, pastured meats, eggs, and cheeses, baked goods, and unique gifts from over one hundred Ohio farmers and artists at our markets in Wooster and Ashland. The Wooster Café offers fresh made lunches served daily with vegan and gluten-free options.

Are you interested in learning how to make the most of a few acres? If so, this eight-week course from Ohio State University Extension held on Thursdays is just for you! Filled with practical knowledge on a variety of topics— you won’t be disappointed! Registration deadline: January 30, 2015. Limited to the first 50 registrants.

The Columbus Agrarian Society is a resource center for and by the gardeners of central Ohio complete with space to gather, network, and share skills. They offer classes and workshops on topics related to intensive growing, services such as consulting and garden tilling, and professional growing supplies and materials to meet the needs of a new breed of growers in central Ohio.

Learn how to put up all those extra veggies from your garden or farm market before the frost in the ancient pre-refrigeration technology of brine lacto-fermentation. We will learn the easy simple basics of making krauts. We will discuss the values of fermented foods in our diets and learn to make a kraut full of amazing health benefits from cancer fighting anti-oxidants, immunity enhancing probiotic microbes, and intestinal-healing vitamins and minerals.

The road to health is paved with good intestines!!!! A most important priority of healthy intestines and digestion is the regular consumption of symbiotic microbial life in food form. Instead of canning which actually reduces nutritional content of most vegetables learn to store veggies in the old barrel brining method, which will be demonstrated.

In this class we will prepare veggies to ferment at home using the jar method. This class will include one quart of kraut ready-to-ferment to take home ($17 value)

PLEASE BRING A QUART JAR, although there will be jars for purchase if you forget. Also, there will be airlock fermentation lids for wide mouth ball jars available for purchase.

If you wish to take home more than one full quart that is possible at a price of $12 each quart, however I will need to know in advance, so email, call, or message me with those requests. (614-601-2439 windriveracupuncture@gmail.com)

Andy Reed is senior owner at Krazy Kraut, a local organic worker-owned fermented foods business. Andy is also a folk healer and acupuncturist specializing in oncology and healing with the art of Asian food energetics.

Join Mahoning County OSU Extension for this clinic on pruning fruit trees. The cost is $20 and includes either a folding saw or set of pruners (choice based on first come, first serve). Come learn to prune fruit trees, brambles, and blueberries.

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden’s Growing to Green program is hosting a one-day summit to explore urban agriculture and community gardening in the greater Ohio area.

Take part in this one-day summit exploring urban agriculture and community gardening in the Ohio region. Become versed in best practices, viability and movement trends. Hear about successes and challenges of different urban agriculture projects— from large scale to small and grassroots. Network, share and celebrate with individuals involved in projects across Ohio.

The summit will include a keynote speaker Mud Baron, panel discussions with individuals involved in projects from cities throughout the state, and tours of the Conservatory and ScottsMiracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus.

Registration: $65 Early Bird Registration, $75 after March 2. Registration includes lunch.

This is a hands-on workshop allowing participants to learn and help your community at the same time! We will be working on the creation and building of a raised bed garden at The Graham School in Clintonville. As a class participant, you will leave the workshop with the knowledge needed to build and install your own beds.

If you’re thinking about keeping goats, or you already keep them then this class is for you. You’ll work directly with goats during the class to learn about natural goat health, simple remedies for common health challenges, herbal parasite control, and the general make-up of a healthy animal.

In this one night class you will learn the basics of rearing meat chickens for the freezer from your own urban backyard chickens. Topics include chick rearing, feed recipes, ranging methods, and butchering options.

OEFFA’s Heart of Ohio Chapter has announced their meeting and event schedule for the 2014-2015 season. All events begin with a short business meeting, which usually features farm policy updates, and include a discussion geared toward both urban and rural gardeners and farmers. Meetings are free and open to the public.

Part of a free, monthly webinar series. Registration is not required. Access the live or recorded session on your computer, smart phone, or iPad. All webinars are recorded and archived at http://u.osu.edu/beelab/.

This workshop will delve into the fascinating, hidden world of the soil foodweb; discover the ratios, temperature, and color that make a great compost pile; and learn how healthy soil forms the backbone of healthy plants and nutrient-dense food.

This Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) course delivers an intensive, introductory curriculum that certifies students in core permaculture principles and practical techniques for restoring damaged ecosystems and building social and economic stability within our communities. PDC’s are a unique opportunity for anyone working in sustainable agriculture, community-building, design and architecture to further build their design skills.
PDC students complete and present a full permaculture site design as part of their certification. They get first-hand experience in site evaluation and mapping, client interviews, design approaches and presentation formats. Students who complete all course hours and successfully complete their design project receive a Permaculture Design Consultant’s Certificate. The certificate is a pre-requisite for further advanced training in permaculture design and teacher training courses.

The course runs Saturdays and Sundays on the following weekends: February 14 – 15, February 28 – March 1, March 14 – 15, March 21 – 22, March 28 – 29, April 11 – 12, and April 18 – 19.

Overnight lodging is available on-site for a limited number of out-of-town students.

The course will also include one weekend trip to Athens, Ohio (April 11 – 12, 2015) to explore its well-developed local food system and visit the farmsite and intentional community of instructor Mark Cohen. Carpooling will be arranged.

Additional supplemental events and learning opportunities will be available on off weekends and evenings.
Register by December 15: $950. After December 15: $1,050. Financial aid available.

The Columbus Agrarian Society is a resource center for and by the gardeners of central Ohio complete with space to gather, network, and share skills. They offer classes and workshops on topics related to intensive growing, services such as consulting and garden tilling, and professional growing supplies and materials to meet the needs of a new breed of growers in central Ohio.